Perspectives Charter Schools Network is seeking a Case Manager for the 2023 - 2024 school year!

About Perspectives Charter Schools

All Perspectives Charter Schools will provide scholars with a rigorous and relevant education, based on the ethical principles of A Disciplined Life®, preparing them for life in a changing world and helping them further become intellectually reflective, caring and ethical people engaged in a meaningful life. All of Perspectives Charter Schools achieved Level 1 or 2 this year. As one of the first charter schools in Illinois, Perspectives has a long record of preparing scholars for success in college and beyond. Our five schools across the South Side of Chicago offer an education that combines character development and academic rigor through the A Disciplined Life® education model. Our scholars come from some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in the country, but they graduate from high school, enroll in college, and persist in college at a rate above the national average. The keys to our success are our dedicated, hardworking, creative, and compassionate colleagues.

Perspectives’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

We are committed to reducing barriers and fostering an anti-racist, non-discriminatory and inclusive environment by internalizing our core values of A Disciplined Life® and ensuring that our practices allow our diverse population of students and staff to grow, thrive, and excel.

JOB PURPOSE

At Perspectives, we pride ourselves in the quality of supports that we give to our diverse learners. We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive education for all. Our Case Managers embody and teach our students and staff how to live the 26 principles of A Disciplined Life® (our social emotional learning culture and curriculum) while also leading the collaborative effort to build and sustain a meaningful and rigorous educational experience within the parameters of Federal law for our students with disabilities. The Case Manager is a leader and an advocate for students, and a resource for school staff. The Case Manager is responsible for ensuring school based compliance around State and Federal law. Additionally, the Case Manager is responsible for ensuring that effective individualized education plans are created and implemented to foster student success--because all students are capable of greatness. At Perspectives, we are committed to providing a caring community of dedicated staff that meet the diverse academic, emotional, and social needs of our scholars. Our ultimate goal is that we give our diverse learners an education that will allow them to be positive change agents in their communities and lead meaningful post-secondary lives. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO: CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Rigor

• Lead school based student supports team to ensure equity and advocate for inclusive practices for students with disabilities.
• Uphold all school based compliance pursuant to the IDEA.
• Schedule, plan, and chair all Individualized Education Plans and related meetings. 
• Follow all procedural guidelines for special education and complete documentation thoroughly and accurately. 
• Monitor and ensure implementation of all special education services in accordance with each student’s individualized education plan. Evaluate school based special education programming and ensure that students are benefiting from the services provided.
• Assist other professional staff in identification of disabilities, development of planned remediation and evaluation of student progress.
• Observe classrooms as needed and provide feedback.
• Provide special education professional development to staff as requested or needed.
• Meet regularly with School and Network Leadership to troubleshoot problems and facilitate communication.
• Review IEPs for relevancy, measurability and completeness. Ensure that all applicable Federal and state laws are followed. Ensure that students have appropriately written IEPs and give feedback to LBS teachers to improve the quality of IEPs.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with parents, staff, other school district personnel, and other community service agencies.
• Coach and support the learning behavior apprentices (paraprofessionals) in their work with students.
• Hold regular school based student support team meetings.
• Coordinate Homebound Services including providing information to parents regarding doctor’s orders, monitoring the homebound teacher’s hours, and assisting with communication between homebound teacher and classroom teachers.
• Monitor students’ with disabilities progress toward graduation. Collaborate with the college counselor regarding credit recovery, modified grading and other graduation necessities.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Social Emotional & Ethical Learning

• Lead and facilitate ongoing collaboration between general education teachers, special education teachers, clinicians, and paraprofessionals
• Demonstrate the 26 principles of A Disciplined Life
• Build meaningful and professional relationships with students and families

Experiential Learning

• Attend all District and LEA Special Education meetings. Keep teachers and administrators updated to new developments or changes in policies as they apply to special education.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited university with Special Education LBS1 (PK-Age 21) certification.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and write proficiently using the English language.
• Ability to interact and speak effectively in interpersonal situations and before groups of people.

Experience:

• Proven success working in an urban school environment strongly preferred but not required.
• Evidence of at least two years of classroom/school experience working in the field of special education.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent knowledge of Special education law, particularly the IDEA.
• Evidence of ability to interpret results of assessments and implement behavior intervention plans.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

• A unwavering belief in the power of inclusion and a commitment to equity in order to narrow the gap within the gap for students with disabilities.
• A strong commitment to live by the 26 principles of A Disciplined Life and a belief that all students in Chicago deserve an excellent education.
• A willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve outstanding student outcomes.
• The ability to inspire and motivate students.
• A commitment to life-long learning with the desire to take advantage of professional development and coaching to constantly improve.
• The ability to make firm decisions in the areas of responsibility.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COMPETENCIES

• Advocacy: Champion the growth and needs of our administrative leadership, teachers, and support staff, within a collaborative environment that takes into account the differentiated needs and goals of the entire organization to support our educational goals.
• Cultural competence: Effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse individuals and groups; apply positive strategies to confront social issues, including discrimination, bias and stereotype threat; and use this competence to inform teaching and learning practices.
• Equity-minded: The data-driven outlook and perspectives that call attention to patterns of inequity in access, outcomes and retention as institutional problems, in an effort to develop systemic strategies within the control of Perspectives that address these inequities. This includes being willing to have robust discussions about identity-based inequities.

Physical Demands

Majority of work will be performed in a general office/school environment. Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties. Also requires participation and attendance at organization sponsored events and meetings.

Benefits Summary
Perspectives offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for all full-time employees, including health insurance, dental, vision, paid time off including holidays, short and long term disability, paid life insurance, 403B and the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund.

Perspectives Charter Schools works affirmatively to include diversity among its workforce and does not discriminate in the selection of its staff on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, income, marital status, or any other dimension of diversity. We encourage diverse candidates to apply for this position.